How can pumkins dissapear?

 
Last year I grew a pumpkin plant (St Albans UK) and it seemed to thrive.
I saw lots of small golf ball size pumpkins but when I later looked they
all dissappeared. There were some insects on the plant (not g/w/b/ fly)
but they seemed too tiny to do this sort of damage.

Does anyone know why?

Remedy?

thanks all




--
ZeroZero

 "ZeroZero"  wrote

  Sounds like lack of pollination to me. The female flowers have small
pumpkins behind the flowers which swell to full size if the flower in
pollinated. If it isn't pollinated it drops off and rots. Try pollinating
the flowers yourself, find a male flower (without the small pumpkin) pull
off the petals and rub the central bit against the tip of the bit in the
middle of the female flower.
If you want large pumpkins restrict it to one pumpkin a plant.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

 

I'm saving this for my children to tell my grandchildren, Bob.  ;-))
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

 "Sacha"  wrote

;-))  I've always thought pumpkins an excellent first plant for a child,
they grow so quickly and so large children don't lose interest. And as you
point out, being as they have different sex flowers there is also an opening
for some early learning in that regard too.
BTW where has the original post gone? Unless it's just me.
--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

 

I think that when we we collaborate on the "Barry met Brenda" book we
may have to adjust the "pull off the petals" bit but I'm sure we can do
a work around on that!   The original post is quoted above, no?
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon